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VERSE: Nu23-04b
RASHIS COVERED: Nu23-04b Nu23-04c
==================== Nu23-04b ==========================
SUCCINCT SUMMARY
----------------
One of Rashis goals is to explain the meaning of
special words like THE, ALL, ALSO. Nu23-04 speaks
about BILAM PREPARING THE SEVEN ALTARS. The word THE
is a POINTING word and can POINT to something being
discussed or it can refer to something well known.
However doing a computer search on the word ALTAR
easily shows EXACTLY SEVEN altars connected with
the PATRIARCHS. Hence the RASHI:
- Bilam thought God could be manipulated mechanically
- Since the Patriarchs attained prophetic revelation
thru 7 altars, I, Bilam, will also use 7 altars to
force God to prophesy to me. More details below
======================================================
ITEM DETAIL
======================== =============================
RASHI RULE CLASS: GRAMMAR
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS SPECIAL WORDS
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE #9
SEE BELOW LIST007a
List of verses with The word THE, pointing
======================================================
======================= LIST007a ===============================
In the following verses the word THE points to something,
usually something mentioned nearby. Most of these examples
are obvious: For example, Dt01-01 says THESE ARE THE REBUKES
WHICH MOSES SAID TO ISRAEL. The phrase THE REBUKES refers to
the REBUKES presented immediately thereafter in the next
few chapters, Dt01 thru Dt13.
=================================================================
VERSE THE means Test of Verse with THE pointing to something
======== ========= ==============================================
Nu23-04b POINTING THE 7 altars=The altars built by patriarchs*12
Dt04-44a POINTING This is THE TORAH = The 10 commandments*1
Dt04-45a POINTING These are THE LAWS = The 10 commandments*1
Ex27-07a POINTING The support poles are brought in THE RINGS*2
Ex28-25b POINTING Place the EYFOD cords on THE SETTING STONES*3
Nu01-17a POINTING Moses took THE PEOPLE mentioned*4
Dt04-32c POINTING Has anyone heard THE GREAT THING(Gd saved us*5
Dt01-01a POINTING These are THE REBUKES that Moses gave*6
Dt31-19a POINTING Now you, Jews, write THIS SONG*7
Ex12-02a POINTING THE NEW MOON will begin each month*8
Nu28-06a POINTING THE DAILY OLAH offering made in Mount Sinai*9
Nu04-13a POINTING THE Altar = The Copper Altar*10
Ex26-15a POINTING THE temple boards=Those planted by Abraham*11
NOTES
-----
*1 These verses refers to the 10 commandments mentioned
immediately in the next chapter Dt04-06 and cross
referencing the 10 commandments also mentioned in
Ex20
*2 This refers to Ex27-04 a few verses earlier
which describes THE RINGS
*3 This refers to Ex28-13 a few verses earlier which
describes the construction of these stones
*4 This refers to Nu01-01:16 a few verses earlier which
lists the people mentioned
*5 This refers to Gods saving us, a theme which is
mentioned in the very next verse
*6 This refers to THE REBUKES mentioned in
the next few chapters, Dt01 thru Dt13
*7
This refers to THE REBUKE SONG mentioned in the next
chapter Dt32 This SONG is one of only 2 songs written
in a special Biblical song format (with a special triangular
use of Tabs).
Note that by law you cannot write only a PART of the Torah on
parchment. Hence this Biblical commandment to write the REBUKE
SONG necessitates an interpretation to write the WHOLE TORAH!
*8
This is a tricky verse. The simplest approach is to realize
that the Hebrew word CHODESH can refer EITHER to (a) the
new moon, (b) the first of the month or (c) the whole month
(This point is made by RADACK in his book ROOTS).
Hence we interpret the two occurences of CHODESH in this
verse to have 2 different meanings! The verse is interpreted
as follows:
---------------------------------------------------------
This NEW-MOON will be for you (the sign) of a new month;
This MONTH will be the first of the months of the year
---------------------------------------------------------
Thus we learn 2 laws from this verse- (a) That the new month
is established by a new moon (b) That Nissan-April is the
first legal month.
*9
The reference is to the copper altar mentioned in Ex27-01.
Compare Ex27-01 vs Ex30-01 and notice how reference to the
copper altar uses THE while reference to the Golden altar
does not use THE.
*10 This refers to either of the 2 OLAH offerings offered at
Mount Sinai (Ex24-01:08 brought at the 10 commandments and
Ex29-38:46 brought at the consecration of the priests)
*11
This is probably the most difficult example in this list.
But following the pattern in the other examples we seek a
reference to TREES made for a TEMPLE. There is a clear
reference in Gn21-33 that ABRAHAM PLANTED AN EYSHEL TREE
AND CALLED THERE(Biblical language indicating making an
altar) IN THE NAME OF GOD THE GOD OF THE WORLD.
Thus it seems reasonable that since Abraham planted trees
to make altars the other Patriarchs also followed this
tradition. Hence the statement in Ex26-15 that we should
take THE BOARDS refers to the boards from the trees planted
by the Patriarchs.
(Rashi (Ex25-05c) refers to the boards planted by JACOB
But in light of the above analysis and the explicit verse
in Gn21-33 we think it reasonable that all the Patriarchs
planted trees for building altars.
*12 Bilam refers to the SEVEN altars built by
the patriarchs See LIST007b for details.
================================================================
======================= LIST007b ============================
Complete list of all verses with the word ALTAR and
mention of the Patriarchs. Remarkably there are 7 such
verses. Hence the Rashi that Bilam tried to force God
to prophesy to him by mimicking the Patriarchs who received
prophetic revelation after building and offering on 7 altars*1
=============================================================
VERSE Person Wht Occasion
======= ======= === =========================================
Gn12-07 Abraham Promise to get Israel
Gn12-08 Abraham Promise to get Israel
Gn13-18 Abraham Promise of land after separation from Lot
Gn22-09 Abraham Ram Akaydah*1
------- ------- --- -------------------------
Gn26-25 Isaac Brought peace by wells
------- ------- --- -------------------------
Gn33-20 Jacob After meeting Esauv
Gn35-07 Jacob After battle with Schem
NOTES
-----
*1 Abraham just offered a Ram
By contrast Bilam offered an OX and RAM
The intent of Rashi was that Bilam thought
God could be manipulated...if you offered
Him enough He would appear to you
==============================================================
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Volume 18 Number 9
#*#*#*#*# (C) 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#*#
Volume 18 Number 9